Riot pays tribute to Shushei with free title and skin in LoL

Riot Games officially confirmed a posthumous tribute to professional player Maciej “Shushei” Ratuszniak, offering a special title and a free skin within League of Legends, as a way to recognize the legacy of the Season 1 world champion. The tribute comes after the confirmation of his death at the end of April, announced by his sister in a Facebook post on April 28, according to the Polish portal boop.pl.

Shushei, a Polish player and icon of the first competitive generation of LoL, passed away after "a short and fierce battle against cancer," according to the family statement. His funeral is scheduled for May 5, at the Catholic Church of the Resurrection, in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The tribute from Riot Games includes the title "Shushei Forever", which will be granted for free to all players. Additionally, those who play three games with Gragas can unlock the Fnatic Gragas skin for free, originally released to celebrate the European organization's victory in the 2011 World Championship.

"Together, we remember the Season 1 World Champion, MVP, and beloved player Maciej ‘Shushei’ Ratuszniak," wrote Riot Games.
"To honor his legacy, players can unlock the 'Shushei Forever' title for free and, additionally, play three games with Gragas to earn the Fnatic Gragas skin. Thank you, Maciej."

Shushei was part of the legendary Fnatic lineup that won the first League of Legends World Championship, held in 2011, when the competitive scene was still taking its first steps. On that occasion, he was voted the MVP of the tournament for his dominant performance in the mid lane, especially with champions like AP Alistar and Gragas.

The commotion in the competitive scene was immediate. Players, fans, former teammates, and even Marc “Tryndamere” Merrill, co-founder of Riot Games, paid public tributes to the veteran.

This initiative from Riot contrasts with the recurring criticism that the company rarely pays permanent tributes to players and community members. In this case, the response was quick and significant, offering not only a symbolic gesture but also unlockable content that directly connects the community to the legacy of Shushei — one of the pillars of competitive LoL history.